Posts from the Wheels Category at Luxist

The Eleanor Mustang

Posted Jul 20th 2008 4:02PM by Deidre Woollard
Filed under: Wheels

Our siblings at Autoblog covered this way back in February but if you are looking a sexy ride like the one Nicolas Cage drove in "Gone in 60 Seconds" you can get your own version of the Eleanor Mustang. Classic Recreations, a custom supercar shop in Oklahoma, creates the special-edition Eleanor Mustangs which are available in a fuel-injected version with 535hp for $139,900, or a supercharged 770hp fuel-injected version for $189,900. The car is built with brand new bodies and modern sports car suspension for a racear feel.

The car has performance features such as as sequential fuel injection, giant cross-drilled Baer brakes and a custom 410cid Keith Craft Racing engine. It also has keyless entry, an in-dash DVD, five-point racing harnesses and custom leather interior. It takes approximately four months to build these turn-key muscle cars and each one has an original serial number.

Gallery: Eleanor Mustang

Résidence Supérieur "Extreme Luxury" Concept

Posted Jul 20th 2008 2:03PM by Jared Paul Stern
Filed under: Decor, Journeys, Wheels, Real Estate Developments

Financial whiz turned "lifestyle designer" Richard Nilsson apparently felt that plain old luxury had lost its luster, so he decided to focus on "extreme luxury." When he was running a business empire Nilsson was only able to take one week off per year, so for his first project he came up with the "Résidence Supérieur" concept as an ultimate retreat where vacationing moguls and movie stars could pack as much luxury and privacy into their vacation as possible, cost be damned.

The first RS is the Villa Oxygene in Cannes on the French Riviera. In addition to ultra-luxe surroundings, it includes exotic sports cars, a private jet and helicopter, yacht, butler, chef, bodyguards and basically anything else you could wish for. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria recently shot an ice cream commercial there, and Nilsson is now planning other equally outrageous outposts. See the gallery for pix.

Gallery: Residence Superieur

The villa's Lamborghini and Wiesmann roadster

iPhone Pouch Premieres At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin

Posted Jul 19th 2008 3:02PM by Tracy Chait
Filed under: Gadgets, Wheels

3G iPhone, check. Mercedes GLK, check. How to merge the two? Enter a new exclusive "pouch" (more like a Birkin for your cell phone), crafted from white napa leather and glittering in Swarovski crystals to stash your phone. Currently even trickier to come by than an iPhone last Friday, the pouch has been released in a group of just 40 limited editions to be raffled off during this week's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. But they'll come to market in October 2008, along with the GLK, the "compact SUV" (oxymoron, anyone?) that made its stylish debut driving Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall to her first Berlin fashion show.

Gallery: iPhone Pouch Premieres At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin

San Diego Auto Museum's $75 Million Ferrari Exhibit

Posted Jul 17th 2008 8:02AM by Jared Paul Stern
Filed under: Wheels, Events

To celebrate its 20th anniversary this fall, the San Diego Automotive Museum (SDAM) is staging a a $75 million Ferrari exhibition. Ferrari: Cavallino Rampante will run from October 1st through the end of the year. Over 30 classic Ferraris will be on display, some for the very first time, during the exhibit which is being mounted in partnership with the Ferrari Owners Club of America.

SDAM will host a variety of events during the three-month show, including a two day Autostrada dei Deserto (From Shore to Sands) rally on Oct. 10-11 complete with a lavish party at the chic W Hotel San Diego. The first half of the exhibit will feature historic racing Ferraris, and the second half will focus on classic touring vehicles including a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L "Lusso", valued at over $2.5 million, and the beautiful 1965 275 GTB pictured above. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: San Diego Ferrari Show

Benz, Bugatti & Jag at Meadow Brook Auto Auction

Posted Jul 16th 2008 12:02PM by Jared Paul Stern
Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

On August 2nd, RM Auctions will sell of a stunning selection of classic cars, including a coveted Mercedes-Benz Gullwing (above), at the annual Meadow Brook Concours d'Élegance in Michigan. The event takes place at Meadow Brook Hall, the historic 110-room Tudor Revival mansion built in the 1920s by auto heiress Matilda Dodge Wilson. In May, RM set a world record by selling the 1961 Ferrari formerly owned by James Coburn which we wrote about for $11 million.

The Mercedes, a beautiful black 1956 300SL, is estimated at $575,000 - $675,000. We prefer it to the other, slightly more expensive Mercedes on offer, a 1936 500K three-position drophead coupe by Corsica, est. $600,000 - $750,000. Also included in the stunning sale: a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupe, est. $475,000 - $575,000; a 1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan by Castagna, similar to the one featured in Sunset Boulevard, est. $400,000 - $600,000; and a 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster, est. $80,000 - $110,000. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: RM Meadow Brook

Overfinch Country Pursuits Concept Car

Posted Jul 15th 2008 3:02PM by Laura Malesich
Filed under: Wheels

Recently launched at London's Salon Privé on July 2nd, the Overfinch 'Country Pursuits Concept Car' is meant to attract the luxury-minded of the sporting class. With a 4.2-litre supercharged V8, Brembo brakes, an on/off-road adjustable suspension system, bespoke Nappa leather interior and olive ash veneer accents the vehicle is built for the refined sportsman who will remove their mucky boots before dashing inside. Hauling your like-minded comrades is sure to be festive with built in drink compartments for bubbly or what-have-you and the built-in rear storage for a gun case, cartridges and crystal drinking set gives your organized trunk a bit of panache. Personally I enjoy the Aubergine (that's a shade of purple for those of you who stick to the nine crayon box) look but I'm not sure most men would agree.

Gallery: Overfinch Country Pursuits Concept Car

Bonhams' Porsche and Lotus Auction

Posted Jul 15th 2008 8:02AM by Jared Paul Stern
Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

On July 26, London auction house Bonhams is staging a sale of Porsche and Lotus motorcars at the Silverstone Classic, one of the UK's premiere motor sport events. Unlike some auctions, the Silverstone sale skews to the more affordable side, without any million-dollar motorcars. In fact, most lots are priced below $100,000, yet there are several beautiful examples of highly collectible classics and contemporaries from the two famous marques.

For instance, the gorgeous 1959 Porsche 356B coupe pictured here, which is estimated at only $36,000 - $40,000 and is in impeccable condition. Also on offer: a legendary 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS touring coupé, est. $220,000 - $260,000; a 1972 Porsche 911 3.0-litre rally car, est. $80,000 - $100,000; a 2007 Lotus Exige Cup 255 coupé, est. $90,000 - $110,000; a 1967 Porsche 911 2-litre coupe, est. $64,000 - $72,000; and a 1973/2006 Lotus Elan +2 Spyder Zetec coupe, est. $40,000 - $50,000. See the gallery for pix.

Gallery: Porsche & Lotus Sale

1973/2006 Lotus Elan +2 Spyder Zetec Coupé

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Touring Coupé

Ferrari Is In The Custom Car Business

Posted Jul 14th 2008 2:02PM by Laura Malesich
Filed under: Wheels

Custom luxury cars are no longer limited to just Pininfarina or Carrozzeria Touring because the delightful customization of Ferrari's own has begun. Have two million euros? Check. Choose a Ferrari chassis and powertrain of choice? Check. Customize your very own prancing horse sportscar...intriguing. There are a couple of limits, like no SUV's, wagons or sedans, and I am sure there is a level of taste expected since the company wouldn't want to place their emblem on just any crazy concoction but beyond that the possibilities are endless.

Maserati: Low Gas Mileage, Hot Sales

Posted Jul 12th 2008 3:02PM by Deidre Woollard
Filed under: Wheels

Just last week I mentioned the poor sales for the Hummer and speculated that gas prices could have something to do with it. How then to explain the high sales of the Maserati, a car known for its sleek looks and high price but not its gas mileage? Bloomberg reports that sales of Fiat's Maseratis jumped 20 percent in the U.S. last month and are up 16 percent in this year when sales of all luxury cars are down 15 percent.

Auto analyst Wes Brown says that Maserati fills a niche, it's a bit more distinctive than a Mercedes but not quite as pricey as a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Maserati says that the average purchaser is a 54-year-old male with household income of $750,000. These gentlemen certainly aren't getting fuel economy. The 405-horsepower Maserati GranTurismo coup gets 13 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Quattroporte, with a list price starting at around $120,000 gets 12 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. Not exactly fuel saving numbers but then again, buyers aren't looking for a workhorse for their commuting needs, this is a pleasure vehicle.

Is this just more of the continued high spending at the top of the luxury market or is there something special about the Maserati that makes the buyer want to throw caution, and sidelong looks at gas pumps, to the wind?

2009 BMW 7 Series Revealed

Posted Jul 7th 2008 12:02PM by Laura Malesich
Filed under: Wheels

Recently the fifth-generation of the BMW 7 series was secretly unveiled in Munich but don't worry it will soon be publicly presented in Paris in September. As the first car to offer full on-demand internet access which allows passengers to surf the web via an iDrive system, complete with color monitor and rotary controller, the new BMW 7 Series for 2009 is high tech, fast and fashionable. The new ride even sports rear-wheel steering...how does that work?! Surely, BMW has always been a desired automobile but I have to say the internet on the road, plus the usual classy luxury and high performance engine, make the new 7 Series one of the must-haves of this coming year.

Gallery: 2009 BMW 7 Series

$4 Million Jaguar Headlines Goodwood Auto Auction

Posted Jul 7th 2008 8:01AM by Jared Paul Stern
Filed under: Wheels, Auctions

An ultra-rare 1955 Jaguar D-Type (above), the first production example ever made, is being auctioned off by Bonhams during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Sussex, England on July 11. The car, which carries an estimate of $4 - $5 million and has a colorful racing history, is one of the most coveted sportscars ever produced; a similar one was owned by Steve McQueen.

Also featured in the historic sale: a super-cool lime green 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S Series II Berlinetta similar to those owned by Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis, est. $440,000 - $500,000; a rare 1968 Bizzarrini GT Strada 5300 coupé, exhibited at the first Louis Vuitton Concours D'elegance in 1990, est. $400,000 - $500,000; a 1962 Cooper-Climax Type 61 'Monaco', raced by several famous name and one of only three believed to be in existence, est. $300,000 - $360,000; a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 competition saloon, est. $200,000 - $240,000; and more.

Gallery: Bonhams Goodwood

1961 Aston Martin DB4 competition saloon

1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S Series II Berlinetta

Hard Times For Hummer

Posted Jul 6th 2008 4:02PM by Deidre Woollard
Filed under: Wheels

For years, the Hummer from General Motors has been a symbol of American exuberance. The beefy road-dominating car was a freeway favorite for its spacious interior even spawning a whole fleet of Hummer limos. But with gas and oil prices at all time highs, the brand is in big trouble. In an article in the Baltimore Sun, new figures from Autodata show that sales of the SUV are down 40 percent through June. The Hummer has the dubious honor of being the worst selling car brand in America right now. Hummer owners are also facing increasing scrutiny from the more environmentally-minded drivers who see the car as a vehicular affront to green values.

Still, there will always be Hummer fans. Those who are very tall and those who have money to spend on big cars with low gas mileage such as professional athletes will always have room in their garage for this car. The Hummer's brash masculine style still drives people to showrooms but the recent economic woes have weeded out those who are not hard-core enthusiasts.

Generation Y's Hunger For Luxury Cars

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:02AM by Rigel Gregg
Filed under: Wheels

Generation Y is commonly touted as the generation of entitlement and immediate gratification, and although some might argue it seems luxury car sales and statistics are backing up the "I want it now" trend of young people. BMW's M3, for example, is a car that starts at $54,000, and although that price tag would normally mean an older and wealthier demographic its most popular buyer is in their mid-20s. It seems the young people of today not only want high-end luxury cars but they're stretching themselves and scrimping in other places to have them. Brands across the board are noticing the trend, which in today's economy is a little surprising (and scary!).

Pininfarina Building Custom Rolls-Royce Hyperion

Posted Jun 30th 2008 7:02PM by Rigel Gregg
Filed under: Wheels

The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is the basis for a privately commissioned one-off to be built by Pininfarina. The buyer/collector remains anonymous at this point, and although there aren't many details available we do know that the car will be named Hyperion (of Greek mythology) and the inspiration for the car's style will be pre-war Rolls-Royce models.

Look for the car to debut in August at Pebble Beach. Maybe then we'll get to see the who the mystery owner is? (And find out how much this baby cost!).

Tour Italy at the Wheel of a Ferrari

Posted Jun 30th 2008 8:02AM by Jared Paul Stern
Filed under: Journeys, Wheels

A while back we told you about Itlay's poshest places to stay; now we'll tell you about the poshest way to get to them - Red Travel Italia has upgraded their Ferrari tours we first mentioned last year. At the wheel of the Ferrari of your choice - their new models include the 430 Scuderia F1, 599 GTB Fiorano F1, F430 Spider, and 612 Scaglietti F1 - you can tour regions such as Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, and cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence and Naples, with five-star stops along the way. Itineraries ranging from one to eight days are custom-tailored for a "subtle blend of art, gastronomy, fashion, architecture, and spectacular scenery." And now an assistant in an Alfa-Romeo will follow at a discreet distance to attend to your every need and make sure you don't get lost en route. Visit www.red-travel.com and see the gallery for more.

[Via UrbanDaddy]

Gallery: Red Travel Italia

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The Eleanor Mustang

Résidence Supérieur "Extreme Luxury" Concept

iPhone Pouch Premieres At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin

San Diego Auto Museum's $75 Million Ferrari Exhibit

Benz, Bugatti & Jag at Meadow Brook Auto Auction

Overfinch Country Pursuits Concept Car

Bonhams' Porsche and Lotus Auction

Ferrari Is In The Custom Car Business

Maserati: Low Gas Mileage, Hot Sales

2009 BMW 7 Series Revealed

$4 Million Jaguar Headlines Goodwood Auto Auction

Hard Times For Hummer

Generation Y's Hunger For Luxury Cars

Pininfarina Building Custom Rolls-Royce Hyperion

Tour Italy at the Wheel of a Ferrari

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#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Deidre Woollard	166	1
2	Jared Paul Stern	47	0
3	Rigel Gregg	37	3
4	Laura Malesich	26	0
5	Lisa Palladino	17	0
6	Tracy Chait	16	0
7	Marsha Reid	4	0
8	Star Sutherland	1	0